Thursday, 6 August 2026, 23:18
The 18-year-old charged in the deadly shooting at the Chico library will face a preliminary hearing on Sept. 29. Bradley Sayer appeared in court this week as a judge set the date in a case that left two men dead and a child injured.
According to Action News Now, Sayer has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and two counts of discharge of a gun with injury. Prosecutors accuse him of shooting and killing 74-year-old Robert Johnson of Orland and 46-year-old Jacob Cody Hull of Chico inside the Butte County Library Chico branch on June 22. A young girl was also injured by broken glass during the incident.
Sayer's defense attorney said the not guilty plea was entered to keep the case moving forward. Last month, the attorney told reporters they do not currently plan to use an insanity defense, but they will explore that option and will at some point bring in a forensic psychologist.
At the Sept. 29 preliminary hearing, prosecutors will present evidence, and the court will determine whether there is enough probable cause to move the case toward trial.
Chico is the largest city in Butte County, and the shooting took place at a public library branch that serves families and students. The case has drawn attention across the North State, with residents and local officials expressing grief over violence in a normally quiet public space.
The shooting on June 22 added to a string of violent incidents in the region and sparked renewed discussion about public safety. The two victims were identified as Robert Johnson, a 74-year-old from Orland, and Jacob Cody Hull, a 46-year-old Chico resident. The injured girl was treated for wounds caused by broken glass.
With the preliminary hearing set, the legal process now moves into a critical phase. Community members in Chico and surrounding Butte County will be watching closely as evidence is presented and the case against Bradley Sayer takes shape.
